the speech

In case you missed Obama's speech last night--or even if you didn't--the NYT has the transcript, and Obama has both text and video. In it, Obama topped his own exemplary oration at the 2004 convention, and--while not perfect--delivered a rousing acceptance speech. M. LeBlanc at Bitch, PhD singles out Obama's "ownership society" rebuttal as a favorite passage:

It's not because John McCain doesn't care; it's because John McCain doesn't get it.

(APPLAUSE)

For over two decades -- for over two decades, he's subscribed to that old, discredited Republican philosophy: Give more and more to those with the most and hope that prosperity trickles down to everyone else.

In Washington, they call this the "Ownership Society," but what it really means is that you're on your own. Out of work? Tough luck, you're on your own. No health care? The market will fix it. You're on your own. Born into poverty? Pull yourself up by your own bootstraps, even if you don't have boots. You are on your own.

(APPLAUSE)

Well, it's time for them to own their failure. It's time for us to change America. And that's why I'm running for president of the United States.

It's my favorite part of the speech as well, because it momentarily elevates this election from a popularity contest into the realm of ideas. Ultimately, this should be less a contest of candidates than of ideas--even of ideologies. The failures of conservatism over the past four decades (which conservatives will never own up to, much less own) are more important to highlight than those of John McCain over the past three, and that's what Obama did here.